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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Smith Electric Vehicles To Open Manufacturing Plant in Chicago, Illinois

11/28/2012
Smith Electric Vehicles, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of all-electric commercial vehicles, plans to open a manufacturing facility in Chicago, Illinois, creating hundreds of direct and indirect jobs.

The company produces trucks for multiple industries, including food and beverage, utility, telecommunications, retail, grocery, parcel and postal delivery, school transportation, military and government

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office said Smith’s decision to locate a facility in Chicago was influenced by the city’s voucher system created to accelerate the conversion from diesel to zero-emission, all-electric commercial vehicles, along with development incentives made available to Smith.

“I’m proud to welcome another growing company with a great mission to Chicago. Soon hundreds of Chicagoans will be able to put their skills to use providing businesses worldwide with high-quality, zero-emission, American-made vehicles,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Smith Electric Vehicles is an innovative company in a forward-looking, essential industry that is a central part of Chicago’s economic future.”

“A mass urban deployment of commercial electric vehicles is an important next step in catalyzing mainstream adoption,” said Smith CEO Bryan Hansel. “Chicago’s location, commitment to adoption in municipal fleets, concentration of commercial vehicles, talented workforce and importance to the global business community make it a perfect choice to grow our company and this industry. The leadership being shown with the mayor’s Chicago Department of Transportation voucher program is a prime example of how Chicago is creating the template for a new energy city.”

The Chicago Department of Transportation, under the Mayor’s leadership, has a $15 million incentive program that encourages companies and individuals to modernize their fleets and convert to electric vehicles. This plan rewards fleets on an increasing scale for replacing their most diesel-consuming vehicles.

Smith Electric Vehicles is currently considering locations for its manufacturing facility in conjunction with city officials. The company expects to begin hiring efforts immediately and announce this new location when the incentive and development packages tied to the site are complete.

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